Wind Turbine Review: Falcon 1600 Watt Turbine - Worth the Investment?

This review examines the Falcon 1600-watt wind turbine, assessing its effectiveness in supplementing a home energy system. The author details their experience installing the turbine, connecting it to an existing solar setup and battery bank, and meticulously tracking its performance over several months, including the peak winter season. The primary goal was to significantly reduce reliance on grid power and lower energy costs. This review offers a firsthand account of both the installation process and the long-term operational results, providing valuable insights for those considering similar small-scale wind power solutions.The author’s findings reveal a considerable discrepancy between the turbine's advertised power output and its actual performance. This honest assessment contrasts the turbine's underwhelming contribution with the author's experience using a propane generator, providing a compelling cost-benefit analysis. Ultimately, the review concludes with a strong recommendation for careful consideration of the cost-to-power output ratio before investing in small-scale wind turbines, highlighting the importance of realistic expectations and potentially exploring alternative energy solutions.

Pros And Cons

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Initial Expectations and Setup

I initially purchased the Falcon 1600-watt wind turbine from Missouri Wind and Solar with high hopes of significantly reducing my reliance on grid power. The turbine was installed and wired to a control panel in my basement and a Midnight Classic 250 charge controller. My plan was to use it to charge my battery bank, supplementing my existing solar setup.

The installation itself was a reasonably straightforward process, though time-consuming. I anticipated a substantial reduction in energy costs, but initial testing revealed a significant shortfall in performance.

Performance and Power Output

Unfortunately, the turbine's power output was far below expectations. It wasn't generating enough electricity to effectively charge my batteries. Instead of providing substantial charging, it only managed to slow down the rate of battery discharge by approximately 10%. This marginal improvement didn't justify the cost or effort invested in the installation.

I meticulously monitored the power generated using my Midnight Classic charge controller. The highest reading I ever recorded was 23 amp-hours overnight, with numbers often dipping as low as 3 amp-hours. Even during the peak winter months of November through January, the performance remained consistently underwhelming.

Comparison with Generator

In contrast to the disappointing performance of the wind turbine, I've had significantly better success using my generator with an EG4 charge converter. This setup reliably charges my batteries efficiently. Furthermore, running the generator for my needs consumes only about a gallon and a half of propane, costing around $155. This makes it a far more cost-effective solution than the wind turbine.

The $2300 spent on the turbine, control board, and installation would have purchased a considerable amount of propane over time. This cost analysis clearly points to the generator as the more economical choice for my energy needs.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

While the wind turbine does provide a small amount of supplemental power, it is far too insignificant to justify its expense. The 10% reduction in battery discharge rate is negligible. Therefore, I won't be replacing the turbine when it eventually fails. Instead, I'll remove it, repair the roof, and increase my solar power capacity to address my air conditioning needs in summer.

For those considering similar small-scale wind power solutions, I recommend careful consideration of cost versus actual power output. A larger turbine mounted on a taller pole might yield better results, but the initial investment would also be significantly higher. In my specific situation, this particular wind turbine proved to be a poor investment.